Edna Mae Tennell McCort

Edna Mae Tennell McCort, age 88, of Fairlawn went to be with the Lord January 3, 2021.  A child of God, she was born to Cecilia and John Leuenberger on January 16, 1932 in Cullman, AL in the same farmhouse in which her mother was born. She spent her first 13 years on the farm picking cotton, milking cows, and canning garden vegetables and fruit. Life on the farm was hard work, but valuable life lessons were learned and the benefits of that hard work helped shape her life. She even learned how to bake a sweet potato in a compost pile!

  The family then moved to Barberton, OH, where Edna later graduated from Barberton High in 1949.  She went on to graduate with honors from Germantown Hospital Nursing School in Pennsylvania in 1952.  After graduating, Edna worked at Akron City Hospital, becoming a head nurse, during which time she met and married Glenn L. Tennell, Jr. in 1956. They welcomed six wonderful children (Her words!) Edna was a stay-at-home mom extraordinaire for 22 years; an excellent seamstress, chef, chaperone, chauffeur, volunteer, life coach, role model, and “home” nurse, before returning to the vocation she dearly loved at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron. During those years, job relocations took Edna and Glenn with the family from Ohio to Atlanta to Dallas and back to their roots in Ohio. After 35 years of marriage, Glenn preceded Edna in death in 1991. 

  In 1995, Edna reconnected with a former flame, Thomas McCort, and the embers were fanned and grew.  A love story was born. They were married and Edna gained a wonderful step-daughter. For 14 years, until his death in 2010, they cherished each other and did all things together including cooking, volunteering at St. Thomas Hospital, grandparenting 9 grandchildren with all the joys that entailed, staying connected with family and friends, birdwatching and bird collecting.

  Mom always had enough love for everyone. Adding another recipient never diminished the serving size of those already at the table. Her family, church, and faith sustained her. She was a kind and giving soul who made and kept many friends along her journey.  She had the honor and privilege to love and be loved by so many nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers, sisters, and “in laws” from all branches of the Leuenberger, Tennell and McCort family trees. We will do our best to carry on her legacy of kindness and generosity of spirit.

  Edna was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands; her oldest daughter, Cheryl Watson; her brother, John Leuenberger; and her sister, Mary Ann Storad. She is survived by five children, all of Atlanta, GA: Mary Ellen (Mark) Leviton, Glenn (Jean) Tennell III, Susan (Frank) Tennell-Milner, Nancy (David) Duncan, and Judy Tennell; son-in-law Craig (Ann) Watson; step-daughter, Evelyn McCort of Colorado Springs; nine grandchildren: Chase (Dominique) Watson, Colton Watson, Ginny Leviton, Danny Leviton, AJ Milner, Carl Milner, Matt Duncan, Eric Duncan and Sam Tennell; great-granddaughter, Niya; and schwestern Evelyn McCusker of Akron and Patricia (David) Hicks of Atlanta.

  Thank you to all who have read this in its entirety.  Her sendoff will not be the large gathering that she deserves, and words really cannot convey the largeness of her life, though we tried. Rest in peace, Mom. Love you forever and always. May the bluebird of happiness forever sing us your song.

  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. SATURDAY, January 16, 2021 at St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church, 476 Mull Ave., Akron, OH 44320. Interment at Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family respectfully requests you join them virtually for mass by viewing the St Sebastian’s live stream on www.youtube.com/StSebastianParish . It would be Edna’s wish for everyone to stay safe during this public health crisis, and that no one be exposed to the dreaded virus that shortened her life.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Edna’s name may be made to Summa Hospice, c/o Summa Foundation, 525 E. Market St. Akron, OH 44304 or the charity of one’s choice. 

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